Ekpe Udoh (left) poses with Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson as he enters the press conference held to introduce Udoh to the media, at the Oakland Convention Cener in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 25, 2010.

Photo: Chad Ziemendorf, The Chronicle

Ekpe Udoh (left) poses with Golden State Warriors head coach Don...

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This March 11 photo shows Baylor center Ekpe Udoh (13) shooting over Texas center Matt Hill during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big 12 Conference men's tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP

This March 11 photo shows Baylor center Ekpe Udoh (13) shooting...

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The Golden State Warriors introduce their 2010 draft selection, Ekpe Udoh, at the Oakland Convention Cener in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 25, 2010. Udoh interacts with the media following the press conference.

Given that he never missed a game in 103 collegiate chances, the one certainty about Ekpe Udoh's professional career was supposed to be his durability.

That was, until he was selected No. 6 overall last month by Golden State, where things are seemingly never that simple.

Udoh will not play on the Warriors' summer league squad because of an undiagnosed left wrist injury, the team announced Wednesday - a day before their Las Vegas practices begin.

The 6-foot-10 power forward from Baylor was injured in a supervised workout at the team's Oakland facility Sunday. Udoh will have his wrist evaluated this week to determine the exact injury and a rehabilitation plan.

The 23-year-old was given the option of taking some time off before summer league games start Friday. Instead, he wanted to get a head start, which turned into a step back.

"Obviously, we're disappointed that this has occurred and that Ekpe will not play in the summer league," general manager Larry Riley said in a release. "By voluntarily returning to the Bay Area to participate in supervised workouts, Ekpe has already demonstrated a great work ethic and determination to get better, which will serve him well as he comes back from this injury and prepares for his rookie NBA season."

Along with the injury, the Warriors announced the perfunctory signing of their draft pick. The rookie scale for the sixth pick is $2.55 million this season and $2.75 million in 2011-12. If the team opts to keep Udoh for a third season, it will cost $2.94 million, and $3.72 for a fourth.

Udoh's selection was widely criticized because the Warriors already have two similar players in Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph. Now, the trio has injuries in common to go along with their youth, spindly physiques and position on the court.

Wright has been able to play only 77 games in his first three professional seasons because of shoulder injuries. Randolph missed 49 games last season because of multiple injuries to his left ankle.

The Warriors had 15 players miss time because of injury last season, with the players totaling 501 games lost. Only Toronto, which had players miss 519 games in 2002-03, has had a more injury-plagued season since the NBA started tracking the numbers in 1986.

The Warriors were without 6.1 players a game because of injury or illness and suited up nine or fewer players in 60 percent of their games. The medical problems have been so consistent the last two seasons that the team has started 96 different lineups in its past 164 games.